HSBC Championships 2025: Emma Raducanu on her grass court preparations, playing at Queen’s & doubles with Katie Boulter

This year, WTA tennis is back at Queen’s after over 50 years away. Starting from 9 June, the women’s tournament will begin an historic fortnight of world class tennis at one of the sport’s most iconic venues.

Raducanu returns to the grass court season off the back of her best year on the surface in 2024 – reaching the semi-finals in Nottingham, quarter-finals in Eastbourne and fourth round at Wimbledon.

The 2021 US Open champion is excited to be back in London coming off the clay court swing and is looking forward to realising a childhood ambition to compete at Queen’s.

“It’s (HSBC Championships) an event that I have come to when I was younger, so to be back and be playing it is amazing and it’s first time there's a woman event for a very long time,” Raducanu said in her pre-tournament press conference.

“When I was young, I came here with my dad. I was more hunting the brownies around the grounds and not so interested in the tennis, but now to be back here and competing is a different feel for sure.

“It's going to be a really positive tournament for all of us to be here in London and have home support.”

While keen to get off to a quick start and have success at Queen’s, the 22-year-old is just as focused on building momentum for the remainder of the summer.

Raducanu has had a few days training on the grass so far but will be hoping to get as many matches as possible to get up to speed on the surface – one of the main reasons why she’s also entered the doubles alongside British No.1 Katie Boulter.

“I got back end of last week and then I had like, two days off after I finished in Paris and then I got straight back on the court,” she said.

“I had a small interruption with a bit of a back spasm again, so that was a bit annoying. I've managed to get on the grass and kind of just begin to try feel my feet.

“Of course you want to win the tournament, like every tournament, but especially when it's at home. My expectations truthfully are pretty low because, as I said, I played points for the first time today. I just have to take it as it goes and deal with what’s in front of me.

“It is exciting (playing doubles with Boulter). I really like Katie and being on court with her is going to be great. Hopefully she's going to give me a lot of direction, tell me what to do, and I'll try and execute.

“I haven't played much doubles, so for me, this is extremely new and I'm not sure how it's going to go, but it'll be a good learning experience, regardless.”

One of the big advantages for the British players competing on home soil is that they get to enjoy a lot more home comforts – staying at home, being around friends and family and most of all, having the crowd behind you.

In the week since Paris and now playing closer to home, Raducanu has been enjoying her time back in London and hopes it can help her relax and play her game out on court.

“It is different because usually when you play a tournament, you're so locked in on tournament mode – you're in the zone from the get-go,” she said.

“It's kind of interesting how it feels because you're at home, you don't necessarily feel like you're playing a tournament or a match tomorrow. I think like it is also really good to switch it off and just to have comforts everywhere.

“You know everything about it, you know, the streets, you feel familiar in the city and it is a nice feeling to switch off because it can be very intense when you're just on site the whole time.”

Raducanu is set to face a qualifier in the first round at The Queen’s Club before a potential second round clash with Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.

Tickets are still available for the HSBC Championships from just £20. You can also watch the action live across the BBC and Tennis Channel.